Solar tracker with two axes

ABSTRACT

Aims at a dual-axis solar tracker that you can perform an unlimited rotation in either of two directions around the vertical axis, thus there is no need to undo the way I walk all day long, from the position of the follower at the end of days wing position occupied by the next day. 
     Due to its special configuration, the dual-axis solar tracker of the present invention allows the engines that power the solar panels moving around one axis of rotation without the power cords are wound around the vertical axis of rotation of the bracket. Similarly, the control wires of the elements of the follower and the wires leading the current produced in solar panels to the electrical substation is not wound around the vertical axis of rotation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for object a solar tracker of two axis that can carry out a limitless turn in anyone of the two senses around the vertical axis, with what is not necessary to undo the way that has been followed during the 10 day, from the position of the tracker at the end of the day to the initial position that will stay the following day.

Due to their special configuration, the solar tracker of double axis of the present invention allows to feed the motors that move the solar panels around one of the turn axes without the feeding electric wires coil around the axis of the vertical axel of the support. In the same way, the electric wires of the control of the tracker's components and the electric wires that drive the current produced in the solar panels until the electric substation don't coil around the turn vertical axel.

In the same way the turn movement around the vertical axel is disconnected from the axel, also having some guides on those some wheels turn joined to the support, endowing to the support with the azimuth movement.

INVENTION RECORDS

They are well-known in the state of the technique the supports tracker of two axis that allow line the perpendicular vector to the solar panels in all the moment with the imaginary line that joins the center of these solar panels and the sun.

This monitoring is very important from the point of view of energy efficiency since the electric power production is proportional to the intensity of the light and to the normal projection in relationship of the position of the solar panels.

The two axes of the tracker brackets allow the turn around a first angle of rotation as a vertical axis or azimuth and a second angle of rotation as a horizontal axis or in height.

These solar trackers are placed over a mounting bracket, where the panels are aligned in rows, covering virtually the entire surface of the bracket. Among the former ones there are solar trackers in azimuth and in height having an external motor which transmits the movement through a system of pulleys to a driving wheel, which at the same time transmits it to the bracket for rotate around the vertical axis or azimuth.

Besides, for turning around the horizontal axes of the panels, there are hydraulic cylinders attached to some slides joined to all the panel's rows that allow a joint rotation of all of them.

Also, the electric wires that connect the solar panels to the electrical substation, where the electric energy is distributed, normally run through the interior of a channel in the center of the bracket, so that when the bracket turns around the vertical axis or azimuth, the cables are wound around the channel, so that at the end of days is necessary to turn the bracket on the opposite way to put it in the initial position, it means a turn close to 270° in order that for the next day the bracket will be ready for a new rotation around the vertical axis.

Due to the above mentioned, the solar tracker needs an additional waste of energy to return to the position of departure.

Likewise, there are other solar trackers in which there are only a single central motor charged to transmit turning to the vertical axis, so the torque that must transmit the motor is too high in order to move all the mass of the mounting bracket, besides it present a large overhang of the solar panels that are more separated from the axis of vertical turning.

All these drawbacks are overcome through the invention that now is going to be described.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention has as purposes a dual-axis solar tracker that can perform an unlimited rotation in either of one of the two rotation senses around the vertical axis, by this way is not necessary to undo the traveled way during the day, from the position of the tracker at the end of the day to the original position that will occupy the next day.

The solar tracker has a set of solar panels that are placed on a mounting bracket in which a first spin around the vertical axis is transmitted. For the transmission of the first rotation, the bracket has a set of wheels which are guided by one or more circulars lanes existed under the support.

To provide to the mounting bracket of turn around the vertical axis, at least one of the wheels is driven by a motor that transmits directly to the spin axis of the same.

Solar panels are arranged in rows, with one or more slides as well that are articulated with bars that which in turn are linked by its other end, at least to one of the panels in each row, because the panels can be rigidly interconnected between then within the same row, where the slides are operated hydraulically or electrically by means of a working device that transmits a turn around a horizontal axis to the panels.

The dual-axis solar tracker allows feeding the motor or motors that drive the wheels that are guided by the circular rail or rails existing under the mounting bracket, without the risk that the power cords will be wound around the vertical axis of rotation of the mounting bracket. The same happen with the control wires of the tracker components and the cords that carry the electric current produced in solar panels to the electrical substation, where all the aforementioned cables are conducted from the panels to the electric substation or control center through a tube that is inside of the vertical axis of the mounting bracket.

In order to avoid the scrolling, the end of the connector, where the cables come out towards the mounting bracket, presents a spin manifolds which are coupled these cables that come from the interior of the distributing channel.

Due to the action of the collector, the current is transmitted to other wires placed at the exit of the collector which fed the motors that driven its wheels or the control cables or the collector that collects the current that comes from the panels and is transmitted to the wires that carry the current produced to the electrical substation, which from there are transmitted to the general electricity network.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present descriptive memorandum is complemented with a set of drawings, which illustrate the preferential example and never limit the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the mounting bracket of the solar tracker of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows several sections, as much in frontal as in side view of the FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a detail in perspective of the central part of the solar tracker where is only showed some of the panels that compound it.

FIG. 4 shows a side view exhibiting the actuation component of one of the slides that produce the rotation of the panels around the horizontal axis.

FIG. 5 shows at the left a floor view of the vertical rotation axis which takes the mounting bracket and at the right a sectional view of the frontal of the vertical axis of rotation.

FIG. 6 shows a 90° sector of the solar tracker where is also showed a detail of a driving wheel on the top and in the down side a driving system of the slides.

FIG. 7 shows a frontal view of one of the driving wheels that is supported on the edge of the circular rail.

FIG. 8 shows another driving component of the slides that is different to the one that was showed in FIG. 4.

PREFERENTIAL REALIZATION OF THE INVENTION

Taking into account the above mentioned, the present invention is related to a dual axis solar tracker that presents a set of solar panels (1) that are placed on a mounting bracket (2).

The mounting bracket (2) is compound by a set of beams (2.1) that form the interlocking structure on which panels are placed (1).

At the center of the mounting bracket (2) is placed a main shaft (2.2) around which the solar tracker performs the turns in azimuth or in vertical.

This main shaft (2.2) can be formed by two solid cast bushings (not showed in the Figures) or by a hollow shaft as is showed in FIG. 5, in this case, the support presents a bun (2.4) formed by two cylindrical bushings that rotates one on each other, turning one of them jointly with the mounting bracket and the other is attached to the surface on which the solar tracker is installed.

At the bottom of the beams (2.1) of the mounting bracket structure (2) there are wheels (2.3) that follow the path of the circular rails (3) that are mounted on the surface where the solar tracker is placed.

In this example of the preferred implementation, the solar tracker presents two concentric circular rails (3), which each of one has 24 wheels (2.3), which 12 of them (2.3), presents some gear motors (2.5) that transmits the rotation to the same one (2.3) in this case the mounting bracket, that is compound by a metallic structure that supports the solar panels (1), turns around the central shaft (2.2).

The wheels (2.3) have a wing (2.3.1) and a core (2.3.2) that rests in a edge (3.1) of the rail(3), with the wing (2.3.1) of a wheel (2.3) alternating to the next one (2.3), that is, if the wing (2.3.1) of a wheel (2.3) is located on the inner side of the rail (3), the wing (2.3.1) of the next wheel (2.3) is located in the outside rail (3) and so on, all designed to facilitate the assembly and efforts distribution. Likewise, the wheels (2.3) are not placed in the longitudinal planes of the beams (2.1).

Solar panels (1) are arranged in rows; there are slides (4) for each group of four panels (1), where the slides (4) are articulated with bars (5) which in turn are articulated by its other end in one of the panels (1) of each set of panels (1) which are rigidly joined by the sides of the same (1).

The slides (4) can be operated hydraulically or electrically. In case of hydraulic operation, as is showed in FIG. 4, a set of hydraulic pumps (not shown) provides the necessary pressure to the hydraulic cylinders (6) connected by its free extreme to each one of the slides (4), so that the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders (6) produce a linear movement in the slides (4), which as are articulated to the bars (5) and these one in turn to the panels (1) produce the same turn (1) around a horizontal axis. The rotation of the panels around the horizontal axis allows a tilt of the same (1) from 20° to 80° regarding the horizontal

In the case of electric motion, as is showed in FIG. 8, a motor (8) transmits the movement to a spindle (9) screwed on which is attached a nut (10) that is joined to the slides (4) that are moved due to movement of the nut (10) by the spindle (9).

As the feeding wires (13) that come from a power source (not shown), as the wires (14) that command the different components of the solar tracker from a control center (7), run through the inside of one or more distribution channels (2.2.1) located inside the central shaft (2.2) and connect to a turning collector (2.2.2) situated on the end of this distribution channel (2.2.1).

In the other end of the collector (2.2.2) the electric current is transmitted to other cables (13) that feed the gear motors (2.5) that drive the wheels (2.3) and to the control wires (14) that command various components of the solar tracker.

As well, the cables (15) that conduct the electric current generated in the solar panels (1) to an electrical substation are also passed by the collector (2.2.2).

The central axis of rotation (2.2) presents one or some frequency inverters (11) which allow control the turn speed of the gear motors (2.5), there is also a gateway (12), which can be pedestrian, and leaves from the central shaft (2.2) and goes to the periphery of the tracker in a radial direction.

The control center (7) presents a PLC (not shown) that performs the control of the assembly and the command of the solar tracker by the work of the gear motors (2.5), electric motors (8), hydraulic cylinders (6) and frequency inverters (11).

As well, the PLC is connected to a weather station (not shown) from which receives various parameters such as date and time, temperature, wind speed and direction and depending on then makes the command of the solar tracker to maximize its energy efficiency.

The essence of this invention is not altered by variations in materials, shape, size and place of the component elements, described in a no restricted way, this one is enough to proceed to its reproduction by an expert. 

1. Dual axis solar tracker which is characterized because it presents a set of solar panels (1) that are placed on a mounting bracket (2) to which is transmitted a first spin around the vertical axis through a set of wheels (2.3) that are guided by at least one circular rail (3) placed under the mounting bracket (2), where at least one of the wheels (2.3) is driven by a motor (2.5) that transmits directly the rotation power to the axis of the wheel, and where the solar tracker can make an unlimited rotation in either of two turn senses around the vertical axis due to a turning collector (2.2.2) placed on the vertical axis and which transmits the electric power to the motor(2.5) that actives the driving wheel (2.3).
 2. Dual axis solar tracker according to claim 1 characterized because the solar panels (1) are placed in rows, with one or more slides (4) that are articulated with bars (5) which in turn are articulated by its other end in at least one of the panels (1) of each row, where the slides (4) are driven through a working device (6, 8) that transmits to the panels (1) a rotation around a horizontal axis.
 3. Dual axis solar tracker according to claim 1 characterized because the mounting bracket (2) is compound by a set of beams (2.1) that form the interlocking structure on which panels are placed (1).
 4. Dual axis solar tracker according to claim 1 characterized because in the center of the mounting bracket (2) is placed a central shaft (2.2) around which the solar tracker made the rotation in the vertical sense.
 5. Double axis solar tracker according claim 4 characterized because the central shaft (2.2) is formed by two solid cast bushings.
 6. Dual axis solar tracker according to claim 1 characterized because the central shaft (2.2) is formed by a shaft which has a bun (2.4) formed by two cylindrical bushings that rotates one on each other, turning one of them jointly with the mounting bracket (2) and the other is attached to the surface on which the solar tracker is installed.
 7. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 3 characterized because the wheels (2.3) are joined to the bottom of the beams (2.1) that compounds the mounting bracket (2).
 8. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 1 characterized because it has two circular rings (3), which each of one has some wheels (2.3), which some of them (2.3), presents some gear motors (2.5) that transmits the rotation to the same one (2.3) for turning the base around the central axis (2.2).
 9. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 1 characterized because the wheels (2.3) have a wing (2.3.1) and a core (2.3.2) that rests in a edge (3.1) of the rail(3), with the wing (2.3.1) of a wheel (2.3) alternately to the next (2.3) is, if the wing (2.3.1) of a wheel (2.3) alternating to the next one (2.3), that is, if the wing (2.3.1) of a wheel (2.3) is located on the inner side of the rail (3), the wing (2.3.1) of the next wheel (2.3) is located in the outside rail (3) and so on, all designed to facilitate the assembly and efforts distribution.
 10. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 2 characterized because of the operation method of the slides is hydraulic, where a set of hydraulic pumps provides the necessary pressure to the hydraulic cylinders (6) connected by its free extreme to each one of the slides (4), so that the actuation of the hydraulic cylinders (6) produce a linear movement in the slides (4), which as are articulated to the bars (5) and these one in turn to the panels (1) produce the same turn (1) around a horizontal axis.
 11. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 2 characterized because the operation method of the slides is electrical, where a motor (8) transmits the movement to a spindle (9) screwed on which is attached a nut (10) that is joined to the slides (4) that are moved due to movement of the nut (10) by the spindle (9).
 12. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 4 characterized because so the feeding wires that come from a power source, as the wires that command the different components of the solar tracker from a control center (7), run through the inside of one or more distribution channels (2.2.1) located inside the central shaft (2.2) and connect to a turning collector (2.2.2) situated on the end of this distribution channel (2.2.1), where the other end of the collector (2.2.2) the electric current is transmitted to other cables that feed the gear motors (2.5) that drive the wheels (2.3) and to the control wires that command various components of the solar tracker, passing by the collector (2.2.2) as well the cables that conduct the electric current generated in the solar panels (1) to an electrical substation.
 13. Dual axis solar tracker according claim 4 characterized because the central axis of rotation (2.2) present one or some frequency inverters (11) which allow control the turn speed of the gear motors (2.5).
 14. Dual axis solar tracker according claims 12 and 13 characterized because the control center (7) presents a PLC that performs the control of the assembly and the command of the solar tracker by the work of the gear motors (2.5), electric motors (8), hydraulic cylinders (6), besides the PLC is connected to a weather station from which receives various parameters such as date and time, temperature, wind speed and direction and depending on then makes the command of the solar tracker to maximize its energy efficiency. 